Published May 31, 2024 by Katerina Gallus, MD FACS
Women consider labiaplasty for many reasons. Labiaplasty is a procedure that reduces the excess skin of the vaginal area, known as the labia. Studies have shown that the most common reason for having labiaplasty surgery is to correct enlarged or elongated labia that can occur following childbirth or with aging. For some women, concern about the size of their labia may have started in puberty or after successfully losing a large amount of weight with a weight loss procedure or diet & exercise. No matter what the reason you may be considering labiaplasty, a common question is whether insurance will cover the costs.
Although the reasons for labiaplasty are important and a motivating factor in women seeking this surgery, many women are scared or intimidated to ask their primary care provider if there is a solution and if it is potentially covered by insurance. We know it can be an uncomfortable topic to bring up and the team at Restore SD Plastic Surgery is here to provide as much information as possible.
Unfortunately, in most cases insurance will not cover or approve labiaplasty surgery. Insurance companies look at a procedure and determine if it is “medically necessary”. They do this in a couple of different ways. One way is to define surgery as reconstructive or cosmetic. Reconstructive surgery is defined as a procedure to correct abnormal structure (like a birth defect or after a traumatic injury) to improve function or appearance. Cosmetic surgery is generally defined is the reshaping or improving of normal structures. This includes surgery done to improve the self-esteem or physical appearance of the patient. Because labia come in many different sizes and shapes, and the labiaplasty is improving the shape or appearance of a normal body part, insurance companies will almost always classify the procedure as cosmetic and not “medically necessary”.
Insurance companies will almost always classify the labiaplasty procedures as cosmetic and not “medically necessary”.
Sometimes insurance companies will take into consideration the impact the issue has on daily life. For example, with breast reduction surgery having large, heavy breasts can cause ongoing upper back and neck pain. Documenting the impact of the upper back and neck pain will be one component of how the insurance company determines whether the surgery is covered or considered cosmetic.
Because of the enlarged labia women seeking labiaplasty complain of irritation with certain activities like riding a bike or may feel uncomfortable in tight clothing like yoga pants or swimsuits. The skin in this fragile area can be chafed and create a frequent source of discomfort. Although this can negatively affect your day to day, insurance carriers are looking for provable health issues versus a source of discomfort. While every insurance policy is different most will still consider labiaplasty an aesthetic procedure.
Despite the reality of insurance not covering labiaplasty, many women will go on to have this surgery. If your symptoms and concerns are impacting your health and lifestyle, you should consider this procedure. The cost of labiaplasty is not as expensive as many other cosmetic procedures and at Restore SD Plastic Surgery we offer financing options to allow for smaller monthly payments through our partnerships with Care Credit and Alphaeon. Labiaplasty surgery can be done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia and most women can return to work after a week or less.
About San Diego labiaplasty surgeon Dr. Gallus
Dr. Katerina Gallus is a female plastic surgeon San Diego area patients trust for safe, compassionate care. If you are considering having labiaplasty, we encourage you to read more about labiaplasty in San Diego and reach out to us for a consultation for Dr. Gallus. If you’d like to discuss your insurance options, please give our office a call, or submit a contact form online.
I have a referral from my gynecologist confirming the procedure is medically necessary. Ive had issues with doctors willing to submit to insurance. Can you help me with this? I am physically miserable since twins.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation, answer questions about submitting for insurance, and discuss financing options with you. We look forward to hearing from you!
My vagina inner lips has always been hanging. This has caused me to catch constant yeast infections and irritation like every other week. I can’t afford a labiaplasty flat out. What are my options? I honestly need both a vaginoplasty and labiaplasty
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation and discuss your options with you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Need llibia surgery . Can I anyway get it medical necessity due to pain and discomfort. Had a sexual assault resulting in some trauma which is documented in my records. Experiencing pain and change In vaginal appearance ever since. Please contact me.
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation and discuss your options with you. We look forward to hearing from you!
I had had my labia removed due to fat cancer how can i get my insurance to cover it. I’m constantly getting UTIs because bacteria is easily accessible to my vagina. Most doctors I talk to don’t hear me out and it frustrating. I cant go out in public when I’m on my cycle because it flows to one side and down my leg ever since it was removed and that is very embarrassing do now I’m on BC that I don’t want to take to stop my cycle … HELP
Hi Charley,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation and discuss your options with you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Hi, I am just leaving this comment because I have an extremely large labia. I feel like it causes me to have a funky smell, it is extremely uncomfortable. I can’t even wear certain underwear. It is something that I’ve always wanted to fix but I can’t pay for it out of pocket.
Hi Lesly, Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation and discuss your options with you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Hello, Im wondering if my labia qualifies for labiaplasty. My labia is so long that it hurts to wear certain clothing. Would insurance cover it?
Hi Shannon, Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. The best way for us to determine if you are a candidate for labiaplasty would be with an evaluation during a free consultation with Dr. Gallus. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation – they can also answer questions about insurance. We look forward to hearing from you!
My labia is very large, long, and extremely uncomfortable. It’s painful, and the cause of too many bladder/yeast infections. This has been an issue for me since puberty. Desperately need to get labiaplasty- how do I qualify for insurance coverage? Please help. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Lindsay, Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and we would love to help if we can. The best way for us to determine if you are a candidate for labiaplasty would be with an evaluation during a free consultation with Dr. Gallus. Please give us a call at 858-224-2281 so our patient care coordinators can hear more about your situation – they can also answer questions about insurance. We look forward to hearing from you!
